action, the matter of dispute is often
made the subject of a war of argument and eloquence, and sometimes, it
would seem, is even settled without any resort to more destructive
weapons.

When Marsden visited the neighbourhood of the Shukehanga, in 1819, he
found a quarrel just about to commence between two of the principal
chiefs, whose lands lay contiguous, and who were also, it appeared,
nearly related, in consequence of the pigs of the one having got into
the sweet potato grounds of the other, who had retaliated by shooting
several of them. The chief whose pigs had committed the trespass, and
whom Marsden was now visiting, was an old man, apparently eighty years
of age, named Warremaddoo,[CF] who had now resigned the supreme
authority to his son Matanghee;[CG] yet this affair rekindled all the
ancient enthusiasm of the venerable warrior. The other chief was called
Moodewhy.[CH] The morning debate, at which several chiefs spoke with
great force and dignity, had been suddenly interrupted; but it was
resumed in the evening, when Marsden was again present.

On this occasion, old Warremaddoo threw off his mat, took his spear, and
began to address his tribe and the chiefs. He made strong appeals to
them against the injustice and ingratitude of Moodeewhy's conduct
towards them, recited many injuries which he and his tribe had suffered
from Moodeewhy for a long period, mentioned instances of his bad conduct
at the time that his father's bones were removed from the Ahoodu Pa to
their family vault, stated acts of kindness which he had shown to
Moodeewhy at different times, and said that he had twice saved his tribe
from total ruin. In the present instance, Moodeewhy had killed three of
his hogs. Every time he mentioned his loss, the recollection seemed to
nerve afresh his aged sinews: he shook his hoary beard, stamped with
indignant rage, and poised his quivering spear.

He exhorted his tribe to be bold and courageous; and declared that he
would head them in the morning against the enemy, and, rather than he
would submit, he would be killed and eaten. All that they wanted was
firmness and courage; he knew well the enemies they had to meet, their
hearts did not lie deep; and, if they were resolutely opposed, they
would yield.

His oration continued nearly an hour, and all listened to him with great
attention.

This dispute, however, partly through Marsden's intercession, who
offered to give each of the indignant leaders